Our website uses cookies to improve your user experience. If you continue browsing, we assume that you consent to our use of cookies. More information can be found in our Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

Please note, we’ve linked to all original studies where possible. Unfortunately not all of these studies are published online, they often come to us as press releases.

60% of millennials have used chatbots

A new study by Retale has delved into how UK millennials feel about chatbots.

From a survey of over 500 consumers aged 18 to 34, nearly 60% of respondents were found to have used a chatbot in the past. Out of the percentage of people that had not, 53% said they were still interested in trying them.

Interestingly, branded chatbots appear to be growing in popularity, with 71% of millennials saying they’d be happy to try a chatbot from a consumer brand. Lastly, 86% of respondents agreed that brands should use chatbots to promote deals, discounts and offers.

Retailers increasing investment in store technology

The latest report from JDA/PWC has found that 69% of CEOs plan to increase investment in digital technologies to improve the in-store customer experience.

76% of CEOs have or are planning to invest in personalised mobile ‘push offers’ and beacons, while 79% are also investing or planning to invest in smart mobile devices for staff in stores. Despite this, 52% of respondents have not yet defined or started implementing a digital transformation strategy.

68% of British retailers have no Brexit plans in place

According to new research from Global-e, 68% of retailers have yet to start planning for Brexit, despite 51% also saying that the vote to leave the EU has already impacted UK sales. The study, which involved a survey of 250 top British retailers, also found that 32% of those selling internationally have seen an increase in online orders from outside the UK.

Additionally, 46% of UK retailers were found to be in favour of a soft Brexit, while 36% agreed that a hard Brexit – with no access to the single market – would be better for UK retailers.

Ad blocking levels stabilise

According to the Internet Advertising Bureau’s UK Ad Blocking Report, the proportion of British adults online currently using ad blocking software has remained at around 22% for the last year.

Despite a predicted rise in ad blocking, this has failed to materialise, perhaps due to many publishers working hard to promote a value exchange.

24% of people cited not being able to access online content as the biggest reason for switching off their ad blocker – a figure up from 16% a year ago. Meanwhile, 24% said that it is because they have since switched to a new device.

Travel brands expected to benefit from Oscar hype

Data from Lastminute.com suggests that travel brands have seen an increase in search interest on the back of this year’s Oscar nominations. Searches for flights to Los Angeles shot up by 21% on the day of La La Land’s release. Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese’s Silence prompted an even bigger surge, with searches for flights to Japan up 82% from the week before, and increasing a further 46% in the subsequent two days.

Though it hasn’t been nominated for any Academy Awards, Brit flick Eddie the Eagle also prompted greater interest in ski holidays, with on-site searches jumping 10% after its release.

56% of CRM managers lack firm objectives

In a survey of 500 leading CRM managers, Wiraya found that CRM is perceived as a key business driver for over 30% of businesses. Despite this fact, it seems many still lack the data and strategy to support their goals and create profitability.

While 91% of businesses are currently measuring aspects of their CRM work, 56% do not have firm objectives in place. What’s more, just 17% say that their CRM work is clearly contributing to the company’s overall revenue. This proves that major improvements still need to be made, as just 31% currently consider themselves ‘ambitious’ in terms of CRM maturity.

One in six UK shoppers have switched supermarkets in the past year

In light of Aldi becoming the nation’s fifth largest supermarket, TCC Global has undertaken a study on the state of consumer loyalty to grocery stores. It found that 32% of UK discount shoppers and 16% of all shoppers have switched their main grocery store in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, 39% of shoppers said that it wouldn’t matter to them if their usual grocery store closed.

The research also found that growing convenience is making it even easier to switch between retailers, with shoppers having an average of 11 ‘reachable’, 10 ‘easily reachable’ and five ‘very easily reachable’ stores.

UK online retail sales grow 12% year on year in January

The latest figures from IMRG Capgemini has revealed that UK online retail sales were up 12% year-on-year in the first month of 2017, with retailers seeing the highest average January spend since 2010. The average basket value was recorded as £85 in January 2017, up from £79 a year earlier.

In terms of sectors, growth for gifts reached an eight-year high, with an increase of 62% year-on-year. Meanwhile, electricals were down 9%, falling for the second month in a row.

Consumers struggle to identify British brands

A recent poll by Spread Co has found that the majority of consumers are baffled by the origins of their favourite brands. 50% of consumers believe Tetley Tea to be British, when it is in fact owned by a foreign company. Similarly, 42% think the same about Branston Pickle and 37% about HP Sauce, when they are actually Indian and Japanese.

The survey also found that 61% of UK adults don’t know that The Body Shop is part of L’oreal, while 19% think Tesco is the biggest company in Britain (even though it only represents 0.84% of the market share).

Mulberry and Burberry are the most searched-for brands during LFW

Captify has revealed that the top three searched for designers during London Fashion Week were Mulberry, Burberry and JW Anderson. Other designers saw online searches go through the roof, with Ryan Lo experiencing a jump of 2,000% over the week, followed by surges for Topshop Unique and Sadie Williams.

In terms of the most searched-for items, designer trainers rose by 60%, followed by minimalist clothing and 90’s style, which both rose 20%.

Despite the fact that companies are spending tens of billions of dollars on loyalty programs every year in the US alone, a study conducted by Accenture suggests that consumers are increasingly impervious to the effects of these programs.

Flurry’s State of Mobile Europe report has revealed that UK mobile app usage grew by 28% in 2016. The report also states that the usage seen across the EU is reminiscent of global figures from approximately six months ago.

So, it appears consumers are spending more time in mobile apps than ever before.

March 1st 201711:09

Latest

Nike’s latest flagship store has arrived on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and with it comes a glimpse into the future of retail. An oft-trotted expression maybe, but the ‘Nike House of Innovation 000’ (its official title) is deserving.